William Kempe Biography

William Kempe biography

Quick Facts

NAME: William Kempe
OCCUPATION: Theater Actor, Comedian
BIRTH DATE: c. 1560
DEATH DATE: c. 1603
PLACE OF BIRTH: England
PLACE OF DEATH: London, England
AKA: William Kemp

Best Known For

William Kempe was one of the most famous clowns of the Elizabethan era and originated some of Shakespeare's comedic characters.

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William Kempe

APA Style

William Kempe. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 03:36, May 21, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514.

Harvard Style

William Kempe. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514 [Accessed 21 May 2013].

MLA Style

"William Kempe." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 21 2013, 03:36 http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514.

MHRA Style

"William Kempe," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514 [accessed May 21, 2013].

Chicago Style

"William Kempe," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514 (accessed May 21, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

William Kempe [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 21] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514.

Bluebook Style

William Kempe, http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514 (last visited May 21, 2013).

AMA Style

William Kempe. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/william-kempe-9362514. Accessed May 21, 2013.

Profile

William Kempe originated several of Shakespeare's best-known characters, including Dogberry in Much Ado About Nothing and Peter in Romeo and Juliet. His name, however, disappears from the lists of the company in 1599, and it has been speculated that his penchant for improvising and his earthy jigs may not have appealed to the more refined audience the company was trying to cultivate.

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